What is Wellness?: Information for General Health Care Providers

2010·1.8 MB·English

INFORMATION FOR GENERAL
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
W H AT I S
Wellness?
The 10x10 Campaign aims to improve the life
expectancy of people with mental illnesses by
10 years in 10 years.
Wellness is physical, emotional, social, occupational, intellectual, financial, environmental, and spiritual.
Information for General The Federal Government has spearheaded the 10x10 You play an important role
Wellness Campaign to promote the importance
Health Care Providers as a health care provider.
of addressing all parts of a person’s life in hopes of
increasing life expectancy for persons with mental
DID YOU KNOW... health problems by 10 years over the next 10 years. The Institute of Medicine* states that health care
should be consumer-centered, based on shared
People with mental illnesses die decades More than 200 persons and organizations have signed
knowledge and have the free flow of information—
the Pledge for Wellness.
earlier than the general population.
especially important for persons with mental health
problems who have multiple healthcare providers.
—National Association of To find out more and to sign the pledge,
State Mental Health Program Directors visit www.10x10.samhsa.gov. With permission, make connections
with a patient’s mental health provider
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE THE EIGHT DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS* and share pertinent health information.
WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES*:
TIPS FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS:
• The co-occurrence of chronic medical disorders
• Talk to your patients about the importance of
and complex health needs is an expectation, not
following up on blood work and other medical
the exception.
tests—especially when a person is taking
• 87% of years of life lost to premature death are due psychiatric medications.
to medical illness.
• With a patient’s permission, connect with his or
• Premature mortality is predominantly due to chronic her mental health professional about medications
diseases - especially infectious, pulmonary and You can make a difference—ask about all and treatment plans.
cardiovascular - and diabetes.
eight dimensions of a person’s wellness. • When treating a person taking psychiatric
• Medications, especially the atypical antipsychotic medications, be aware of glucose levels, weight
drugs, can cause weight gain, dyslipidemia and When treating a person with a mental health disorder, loss or gain, blood pressure, sleep patterns, and
glucose metabolism. it’s important to inquire about many health factors, metabolic levels.
• Mental health consumers have a higher prevalence including one’s emotional, financial, environmental, • Refer consumers to needed resources, such as
occupational, social, intellectual, physical,
of metabolic syndrome, liver diseases, hypertension smoking cessation tools, if applicable.
and spiritual well-being. All of these
and dental disorders.
• Talk with patients about ways to improve
factors directly affect one’s physical health.
• Mental health consumers have high rates of health—a nutritional diet, daily exercise, making
Additionally, because of the side
smoking, poor weight management/nutrition and social connections, and avoiding nicotine,
effects of psychiatric medications,
physical inactivity. alcohol, and other substances.
people with mental illnesses are
• Mental health consumers have the lowest rate of at a much higher risk for many • Remember—all eight dimensions of wellness
utilization of preventive medicine and self care. physical ailments. affect one’s overall well-being!
*Source: Improving the Quality of Health Care for Mental
*Source: Swarbrick, M. (2006). A
*Source: Measurement of Health Status for People with wellness approach. Psychiatric Health and Substance Use Conditions: Quality Chasm
Serious Mental Illness, NASMHPD (2008). Rehabilitation Journal, 29,(4) 311- 314. Series, IOM, 2005.
F O R M O R E
Information
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov
• FDA Office of Women’s Health
www.fda.gov/womens
• US Department of Health and Human Services
www.hhs.gov
• National Association of State Mental Health
Program Directors (NASMHPD) Achieving wellness involves
www.nasmhpd.org
ACTION and COMMITMENT.
• Institute of Medicine
www.iom.edu Don’t wait to get well. Be part
• Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation of the achievement of the 10x10
www.bu.edu/cpr
Wellness Campaign’s goal!
• President’s New Freedom Commission
on Mental Health
www.mentalhealthcommission.gov
• The National Wellness Institute
www.nationalwellness.org
The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of
the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or
policies of SAMHSA or HHS. Inclusion on this list of resources
does not constitute endorsement by SAMHSA or HHS.
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
SAMHSA 10x10 Wellness Campaign
1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 2-1007
Rockville, MD 20857
[email protected]
HHS Publication No. (SMA) 10-4566
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
2010